Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is participating in the Expo 2017 in Astana, under the slogan “Energy of the Future”, as a gold sponsor, in line with the UAE’s efforts, to equip one of the largest pavilions during the exhibition. The UAE pavilion covers an area of more than 980 square meters, and will be attended by major UAE agencies and institutions. Expo 2017 will run from the 10th of June, 2017 to the 11th of September, 2017, in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
The slogan of Expo-2017 reflects challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, in the field of energy, while promoting efforts to find sustainable energy solutions to meet growing global demand, and the need to move to alternative energy sources and eco-friendly economies.
“We are participating in the exhibition, in line with vision of the wise leadership of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to strengthen the leadership of the UAE, and its competitive global position, especially in the fields of renewable energy, sustainability, green economy, and energy efficiency. We are showcasing our ambitious programmes, projects and initiatives that combine economic growth, sustainable energy, and a clean and safe environment,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.
“As part of our commitment to promote sustainability, which is a key element of Expo 2020 Dubai, DEWA has allocated a huge portion of its clean energy projects, in line with the Dubai Clean Energy 2050 to provide 7% of Dubai’s energy from clean energy sources by 2020, 25% by 2030 and 75% by 2050. During its participation in Expo 2017, DEWA will review a number of its projects, mainly the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which covers the three themes of economic, environmental and community sustainability, and is the largest single-site solar project in the world, based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, with a total investment of AED 50 billion, and a production capacity of 1,000MW by 2020 and 5,000MW by 2030. Upon completion, the solar park will contribute to reducing more than 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions per year,” added Al Tayer.
“DEWA is showcasing its smart initiatives, including Shams Dubai initiative, which allows building owners to install photovoltaic (PV) panels on their rooftops to generate electricity from solar power, and connect the systems to DEWA’s grid. The electricity is used onsite and the surplus is exported to DEWA’s grid. Moreover, there is the Green Charger initiative, which builds the infrastructure and electric vehicle charging stations across Dubai, to encourage the public to use electric vehicles and contribute to protecting the environment. DEWA has completed the installation of 100 green chargers, and began the installation of another 100 stations across Dubai. DEWA is also highlighting the Solar Decathlon Middle East (SDME), which was created through an agreement between the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and DEWA, and the United States Department of Energy. Dubai will host the first two rounds of the Solar Decathlon, which is held for the first time in the Middle East, in 2018 and again in 2020 to coincide with World Expo in Dubai, whose theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ fits well with this distinguished international competition. DEWA is working to maintain the pace of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We implement disruptive technologies in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity and water to provide world-class services, with a focus on quality of life for citizens and residents and the sustainability of our resources. DEWA is also supporting the Dubai Future Accelerators initiative, to create an integrated global platform for the future industry of strategic sectors and create economic value, by opening new horizons to benefit from distinguished and innovative experiences. These will help to develop the best services and applications and take them to the highest international standards, to help Dubai become the happiest city on Earth, by using advanced technologies based on artificial intelligence, solar energy, and others to conduct experiments and research through technological incubators,” continued Al Tayer.
“DEWA lies at the forefront of the international community, reducing losses in power transmission and distribution networks to 3.3%, compared to 6—7% recorded in Europe and the USA. DEWA recorded a rate of 3.28 customer minutes lost, compared to European companies averaging 15 minutes. Water losses in the distribution network decreased to 8% during 2016, compared to 15% in North America. The UAE, represented by DEWA, has been ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa and fourth globally for the fourth consecutive year for getting electricity, as per the World Bank’s Doing Business 2017 report,” said Al Tayer.